Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-07-16
BATH, July 10.

about l o'clock this forenoon. The flames
spread with remarkable rapidty and soon
nearly all the buildings in the yard were on
fire.
The fire started in the oakum shop. At
ll.30 the flames had spread 80 that dwelling
houses adjoining the yard were in imminent
danger. Engines from Lewiston, Auburn
and Brunswick were sent for.
The works of this company are located
about quarter of mile south of Clapp's
point and three quarters of a mile north of
the custom house and the business centre of
Bath. They are, of course, on the river
front, and adjoining are the yards of A. Sew
all & Co. The wind is northwest and sweeps
down the Kenuebec, by long line of dry
wooden buildings, all of which are in dan
ger of destruction. Next to the Sewall yards
are the ship yards of the Moses heirs. Then
come in order Virgins spar yards, the Pat
ten wharves. J. F. Hayden's coal and ice
shed, Aliens coal shed, the wharf and build
ings of the Kennebec and Boston steamboat
company, and long line of low wooden
buildings covering wharves used for various
purposes. Directly back of this line of
wharves is Commercial street with its stores
and tenement houses, most of which are
wooded buildings, upon the roofs of which q
hot sun has been shining for two weeks past,
making the shingles as dry as tlnder.
Besides the dry shingles on the buildings
in the yards adjoining the New England
company's works, scattered about everywhere
in doors and out, are large piles of dry shaw
ings which would take fire from spark, no
matter how small. SO the danger of
confagrstion along the river front is at this
time Ol.45) great.
The wind is a little north of west, and
takes the sparks from the yard almost straight
down Front street. 1t is nearly half mile
from the New England yards down to the
junction of Front and Commercial streets,
and all this distance is filled with the dry
wooden building before mentioned. At this
junction the business portion of the town
begins, so it can at once be seen that if the
wind holds as at present, the large blocks In
the business part of the town are in danger.
Mayor Wakefield has telegraphed for aid
to Portland, Lewiston and Brunswick though
it now (l2 30) looks as if the Bath fire de-
partment, supplemented by hundreds of will
ling citizens, would prevent a further spread
of the flames But the loss will reach over
one hundred Thousand dollars.
I, ,.1l,
was instantly abaze, and, with acres of hard
pine timber chips ard other nhammabe ma
teral about confagration was imminent.
Three huls of vessels on the stocks were at
once ignited and sea of fire, smoke and
cinders arose with mighty roar. A schooner
of 1000 tons, ceiled and partly planked, build
ing for Captain William |. Anderson of Long
Island, and valued at $4,000, an 800 ton
schooner in frame for New Jersey people,
worth $4,000, and the tug Cocheco, built for
Dover New Hampshirel people. worth
$40 900, the latter ready to launch, were all
destroyed.
The other losses will be dwelling owned
BY the company, the oakum shop, stables,
blacksmith shop and office.
Help has arrived from Brunswick and the
other help asked for has been telegraphed
not to come. Capt. Rsndall's schooner of
100 tons, ceiled and partly planked, will be
saved Barkentine William II. Dietz of
Philadelphia, repairing on the railway, is on
fire, but will not be total loos. Schooner
Annie S. Bailey, lying at the dock, hoisted
her lib ard swung out into the stream uuin-
jured.
The wind was blowing gale over the yard
full of infiammable matter at the time of the
alarm, but it aft erwards changed toward the
water. This saved the Randall schooner.
Chas. f. Moody's elegant dwelling was on
fire at one time but was saved as was numer-
Gus other buildings.
Fourth dispatch-The fire atthis hour, g. 25,
is still burning but it is entirely confined to
the New Eugland yards, and under control.
All the engines, with the exception of the one
from Brunswick, were stopped before they
left their own cities.
The buildings in the New England yard
are burned fat. and everything there is in
ashes. A few buildings in the immediate
vicinity caught fire but the small flames were
extnguished before any great damage was
done.
The loss will certsinly reach over 100000
all of which the New England company will
have to stand. The insurance will not cover
more than half of this loss.
PORTLAND, July l5.
AtlI45. Mayor Chapman received the
following dispatch;
BATH, July 10.
New England Shipbuilding Co.'S J ard on
fire. Send help at once.
J. W. WAKEFIELD.
Exactly 80 minutes later, the Falmouth A
engine had been loaded on special Maine
Central train, with crew of men ready to
start. A few minutes later a telegram was
received stating that the FIRE was under con-
troll and that their services would not be
needed.
BATH, July Is.
The FIRE at o'clock vas under control and
the loss will be confined to the three hulls on
the stocks, the barkentine on the railway,
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